Children as young as 13 are being treated for heroin addiction on Tyneside. A Chronicle probe can today reveal the true scale of teenage drug use in the region.

There are around 320 under-16s being treated for problems with substances ranging from class-C cannabis to class-A drugs like crack and Ecstasy.

In the worst case, a 13-year-old from South Tyneside is getting help for a heroin habit.

Today, drug treatment workers warned even dabbling with soft drugs at a young age can lead to hard drug problems in later life.

Gail Wright of the SCADA project in Newcastle's West End, said: "I would say most of the people we deal with have been either using drugs or drink since the age of 10, 11 or 12.

"When you look at their history, they may have started with alcohol or cannabis but move on to drugs like heroin or cocaine later on."

Colin Bradbury, National Treatment Agency regional manager for the North East, said: "Any child or young person who requires treatment for heroin misuse is one too many.

"We are determined to be vigilant in ensuring that the right services are available to children in the local area to identify and support those who are misusing drugs.

"Also, the updated national drugs strategy focuses on developing specialist services to prevent drug harm and to ensure that all children and young people reach their full potential so that they do not go on to become tomorrow's problem drug-users."

Figures on teenage drug use were given to the Chronicle by the National Treatment Agency.

They show how many youngsters are receiving treatment in each Drug Action Team (DAT) area.

Most are in rehab for cannabis use but many are being treated for problems with drugs ranging from solvents and tranquillisers to Ecstasy, cocaine and heroin.

In Newcastle, there are 30 children in treatment, including one 11-year-old cannabis abuser. There are four 15-year-olds getting help with heroin problems and one for amphetamines.

In County Durham, there are 58 cannabis users in rehab, including one 11-year-old and four 12-year-olds. There is one 15-year-old heroin abuser and four children being treated for Ecstasy use.

The region's youngest heroin addict is the 13-year-old in South Tyneside. There are also 52 children being treated for cannabis use in the borough, along with three 15-year-olds for amphetamines.

DAT manager Janice Chandler said: "Here in South Tyneside we have a very effective treatment programme called the Matrix, helping young people with their drug use.

"The team includes a nurse, housing workers and criminal justice workers who treat the whole of the young person, not just the drug use, by providing support for them and their families following treatment.

"We have a high-profile education and prevention campaign in schools to raise awareness in young people of our service as well as problems of drug use.

"Because we have such an effective treatment system which has a high profile in the borough, perhaps we have more young people coming forward for treatment than in other areas where services are not as high-profile."

Diana Robertson, children and young people's drug and alcohol services manager at the DAT in Newcastle, said: "Evidence suggests that drug use among young people is stable and there is certainly no dramatic increases in drug use that we aware of in Newcastle.

"A small number of young people do develop problems around drugs and it is important that we provide the best treatment possible for these young people and their families.

"Drug use is a complex issue and there are many reasons why a young person might experience these sorts of problems. Our duty is to respond to them with care and remember that this is a problem which everyone in our society needs to take some responsibility for."

In Gateshead, there are two 15-year-old heroin addicts, along with 35 cannabis users, the youngest being just 12. In Northumberland, there is a child being treated for solvent abuse at just nine years old. There are also 46 cannabis users aged between 11 and 15.

In Sunderland, there is one 14-year-old being treated for heroin problems, as well as 47 cannabis abusers. Petra Maxwell, of charity Drugscope, said: "It is always extremely concerning to hear of any young people of this age being involved in heroin use but we have to put this in context.

"Illegal drug use of any kind is uncommon among this age group and heroin use is extremely rare. On the national level, 1% of 13 and 14-year-olds have used heroin, and in the North East there are two people under 15 in treatment for heroin use. There are signs that drug use among children and young people has stabilsed and has started to fall but we still need to step up efforts to improve education and prevention.

"There is a need for more training and awareness-raising among teachers and those working with children and families. Around 250,000 children have a parent misusing drugs and are more vulnerable to becoming drug-users themselves."